newbie questions

[eric1911]

I am going to have my first precision BA rifle.
With limited budget, roughly $2500, shall I place priority on barrel or action?
I could get Bighorn origin with Benchmark cut rifled barrel or Curtis Axiom with MPA barrel at similar cost.
Which one shall I choose? Because it's my first BA rilfe, I don't want a setup requires a lot of load development effort.
Many thanks!
Eric

 

[Steel head]

I’m pretty sure benchmark is a button barrel but they have a good reputation.

Personally I’d go with the better action because it’s possibly sticking around and barrels are consumables.

Load development usually isn’t tough.

 

[S197]

Is your budget including optics? I would buy a good action that can be upgraded a good barrel and the rest into ammo.

 

[nn8734]

What cartridge? And How familiar are you with it, load development-wise?

That will exert more influence on load development time than the barrel and action, given what’s available at your budget.

 

[eric1911]

without optics

 

[eric1911]

What cartridge? And How familiar are you with it, load development-wise?

That will exert more influence on load development time than the barrel and action, given what’s available at your budget.

I am looking at 6.5 creedmoor

 

[eric1911]

I’m pretty sure benchmark is a button barrel but they have a good reputation.

Personally I’d go with the better action because it’s possibly sticking around and barrels are consumables.

Load development usually isn’t tough.

I thought cut rifled barrel is better. So in my opinin Origin with cut rifled barrel has higher priority on barrel than the Curtis Axiom setup.

 

[eric1911]

What cartridge? And How familiar are you with it, load development-wise?

That will exert more influence on load development time than the barrel and action, given what’s available at your budget.

I mean prefer a setup that is not picky about ammo.

 

[HiDesertELR]

ALL rifles will require "load development", even if it's shooting ten different types of factory ammo to figure out what they like.

You can take identical actions, identical barrels, and you'll always have two different rifles. One may like one load, no guarantee the other rifle likes it. They're like fingerprints - no two alike.

Even rifles that are "guaranteed" to shoot 1/2 MOA have an asterisk next to the "guarantee".

 

[nn8734]

I thought cut rifled barrel is better. So in my opinin Origin with cut rifled barrel has higher priority on barrel than the Curtis Axiom setup.

Every chamber and barrel is technically unique as far as load development is concerned however there is an immense amount of load data for 6.5 creedmoor such that I would think you could develop a load rather quickly regardless of set up.

The person cutting the chamber and reamer used would be more important to me; actions and match grade barrel manufacturers are almost personal preference nowadays. I personally like Lilja and Bartlein but that’s just me.

 

[eric1911]

ALL rifles will require "load development", even if it's shooting ten different types of factory ammo to figure out what they like.

You can take identical actions, identical barrels, and you'll always have two different rifles. One may like one load, no guarantee the other rifle likes it. They're like fingerprints - no two alike.

Even rifles that are "guaranteed" to shoot 1/2 MOA have an asterisk next to the "guarantee".

I understand this. I mean I prefer a setup that shoots good enough with a wider range of ammo than a setup shoots good only with specific ammo.

 

[acudaowner]

sounds like it's going to be a fun build look forward on future posts on progress .

 

[Matches Malone]

without optics

I know the question is specific to action and barrel, but I would be more concerned with a good optic foremost, even if that means a stock action/barrel.

As far as the action and barrel, they are both bunch of useless metal. It’s all about the smith that puts them together that makes the magic happen. You can take a $350 Brux barrel and it will shoot good if the work is done right. That being said, it’s impossible to definitely say this x and y combo will be the best and shoot everything great. Even with custom reamers and throat reamers being used. So let take away from the rant, find a reputable smith that can make what you want happen.

If I were getting a new rifle made, I’d go back to basics, pick a few loads you’re interested in. Get your shit set up, and develop the load, or find the factory ammo that does the best that’s most available to you. When you shoot out that barrel, you’ll be back to square one and get to do it all over.

 

[HiDesertELR]

I know the question is specific to action and barrel, but I would be more concerned with a good optic foremost, even if that means a stock action/barrel.

As far as the action and barrel, they are both bunch of useless metal. It’s all about the smith that puts them together that makes the magic happen. You can take a $350 Brux barrel and it will shoot good if the work is done right. That being said, it’s impossible to definitely say this x and y combo will be the best and shoot everything great. Even with custom reamers and throat reamers being used. So let take away from the rant, find a reputable smith that can make what you want happen.

If I were getting a new rifle made, I’d go back to basics, pick a few loads you’re interested in. Get your shit set up, and develop the load, or find the factory ammo that does the best that’s most available to you. When you shoot out that barrel, you’ll be back to square one and get to do it all over.

 

[Dthomas3523]

If you get a 6cm or 6.5cm saami chamber, as long as the chamber job is done properly, you can almost guaranteethat hornady factory ammo will shoot more than good enough to win matches.

Don’t even worry with chrono’ing it. It will just drive you nuts if you see a higher SD/ES than you like.

Buy ammo, zero it and make sure it’s sub moa. Then shoot it at 3, 6, 8, and 1k.

True your software to whatever velocity and BC it wants to line it up.

Do this anytime you change lot numbers.

I promise most shooters can’t shoot better than this method will provide for them.

Shoot 3-4 barrels out like this and you might be at a point where you need to be more detailed with loading and such.

 

[Steel head]

If you get a 6cm or 6.5cm saami chamber, as long as the chamber job is done properly, you can almost guaranteethat hornady factory ammo will shoot more than good enough to win matches.

Don’t even worry with chrono’ing it. It will just drive you nuts if you see a higher SD/ES than you like.

Buy ammo, zero it and make sure it’s sub moa. Then shoot it at 3, 6, 8, and 1k.

True your software to whatever velocity and BC it wants to line it up.

Do this anytime you change lot numbers.

I promise most shooters can’t shoot better than this method will provide for them.

Shoot 3-4 barrels out like this and you might be at a point where you need to be more detailed with loading and such.

This!

And don’t discount button rifles barrels.

I have both and can confidently say button barrels are a great value and have never held me back.

 

[Dthomas3523]

This!

And don’t discount button rifles barrels.

I have both and can confidently say button barrels are a great value and have never held me back.

The only difference I’ve been able to discern is at times a bit better barrel life with cut barrels.

I think it’s more to do with the manufacturers than anything. Basically, if Bartlein wanted to make a good button barrel, they could. Because they are a good quality company.